Midlands’ highest-ranking Indian diplomat, Dr Aman Puri, is the youngest among his counterparts in the UK. Appointed in February this year, I caught up with Dr Puri, pictured, to find out more about him,his vision, mission and aspirations within his term of office.
Dr Puri’s diplomatic career began in 2005 with a three-year stint at the Indian Mission to the European Union, based in Brussels. He then moved to the Passport Office in Chandigarh, in the Punjab – the city in which he did his schooling at St John’s High School – where he spent just over a year. Then from 2010 until 2013 he served as Deputy Chief of Protocol which entailed organising foreign visits for the Prime Minister of India as well as those for world leaders visiting India.
From 2013 until 2016 he served as Regional Passport Officer in New Delhi. More recently, he was a director in the Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
In his current role as Indian Consul General, based in Birmingham, his prime responsibilities include: protecting and promoting the interests of Indian citizens as well as of British Indians across the Midlands and North of England; overseeing the provision of consular services; promoting bilateral trade between India and the UK; and building upon and establishing new networks across relevant private and public sector organisations to further enhance the reputation of India in his geographical patch. Of the 35 Consulate General of India staff in Birmingham, just over half are based in-house.
I asked Dr Puri what brings him the greatest satisfaction in his role: “To see how well members of the Indian diaspora are doing across all sectors in the UK.” He explained: “As a diplomat, it gives me immense pleasure that the perception of India has improved over the years. Today British nationals, in particular, look to India as a country with huge opportunities. Indians are now not only jobseekers but job creators in the UK.” He cited Tata – the single largest employer in UK after the NHS - as a shining example.
I queried the visa system and process which continues to receive mixed responses and reactions from the public. Dr Puri reported that last year, more than 20,400 people travelled to India on e-visas, a facility that has been extended across 161 countries for entry through 24 airports, seaports too. The Consulate in Birmingham receives on average 300 visa applications each week. Also, in the last 5 years, almost 14,000 Overseas Citizenship of India, or OCIs, have been granted, each taking, on average, a month or so to process.
Dr Puri, who will turn 42 in January, told me that he is keen to establish a stronger connection with second and third generation British Indians. “I’d like to tap into their talents and hear their ideas on how to improve relations between India and the UK, particularly from a trade and investment perspective.”
A dentist by profession, Dr Puri has two sisters, both doctors, based in the United States. His father is also a doctor, his role model too, and his mother, a housewife, who lives with him.
Asked what one key message he’d give our readers: “It is high time for people of all faiths and religion to take on this extremism and lead their lives not in separated, segregated communities but as one truly responsible citizen contributing to peace and harmony in our society”
Earlier this month, the European Parliament debated and adopted a report on EU political relations with India. The report received huge support across a majority of the political groups in the European Parliament.
Speaking during the debate in plenary, Neena Gill CBE, Labour MEP for the West Midlands, said: “This report on EU-India relations is key in terms of building our relationship with one of the world’s fastest growing major economies and a global power.” She added: “We share a vision for the future based on our values including sustainable development and we face many of the same challenges - climate change, terrorism, protecting the rule of law, managing migration with respect for human rights, and tackling inequality while ensuring that our citizens are ready for the technological era.”
